Peter Cullen, the voice actor who became synonymous with Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, has died at 85. His manager, Kevin Motley, confirmed Cullen’s death to The Hollywood Reporter. Cullen died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, at his Los Angeles home, Motley said.
Motley told the outlet Cullen “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.” The Hollywood Reporter did not report a specific time of death. No cause of death had been disclosed as of Aug. 27.
Cullen’s family also issued a statement asking people to remember the actor by serving their communities and leading others with “compassion, integrity and loyalty.” The family also asked fans to remember the phrase, “be strong enough to be gentle.”
X reacts to Cullen’s passing.
As news of Cullen’s death spread, one X post noted, “Peter Cullen didn’t just voice Optimus Prime. He was the character for over 40 years [with a] calm, noble, slightly world-weary strength that made a giant robot feel like a father figure.”
Peter Cullen didn’t just voice Optimus Prime. He was the character for over 40 years that calm, noble, slightly world-weary strength that made a giant robot feel like a father figure pic.twitter.com/uTzkbjKqWh
— Richie Billie 𝕏 (@RichieBillie10) August 27, 2026
Cullen’s death comes just days after the passing of country music legend Dolly Parton and The Rocky Horror Picture Show star Tim Curry. As those of a certain generation noted on social media, “Peter Cullen has passed. My childhood is taking [a] beating this week.”
Peter Cullen and Optimus Prime.
Cullen’s best-known role began with the original animated The Transformers series, which ran from 1984 to 1987. Cullen voiced Optimus Prime, the Autobots’ leader. He established the deep, authoritative delivery that became closely associated with the character.
He continued voicing Optimus Prime as the franchise expanded beyond the original television series. Cullen returned for the 1986 animated feature The Transformers: The Movie and later voiced Optimus in Michael Bay’s live-action films, including Transformers in 2007, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in 2009, Transformers: Age of Extinction in 2014 and Transformers: The Last Knight in 2017. He also voiced the character in Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Cullen’s work extended well beyond the Autobots. He voiced Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which aired from 1988 to 1991, and continued playing the gloomy donkey in subsequent Winnie the Pooh productions.
His other credits included King Kong in the 1976 film King Kong and K.A.R.R., the villainous prototype of K.I.T.T., on Knight Rider. Cullen also supplied the distinctive vocal effects for the Predator creature in the 1987 film Predator.
Born July 28, 1941, in Montreal, Cullen graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1963, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Before becoming a prominent voice actor, he worked in radio and television and appeared on programs including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.
Published: Aug 27, 2026 11:24 am